Push-type offset mower



April 26, 1949. P. TURNER PUSH TYPE OFFSET MOWER Filed Jam. 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 XK A, E E N, M m RU T WTv T N, QA E Nr IE .DI

fj 85 a@ 38 x sa :saY l l 3.8' ab 5 l In April 26, 1949. P. TURNER 2,468,312

PUSH TYPE OFFSET MowER Filed Jan. 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z5 6 s4 AO -O A lill April 26, 1949. P. TURNER PUSH TYPE OFFSET MowER 3 sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 1o, l194e @s y INvENToR,

"" I PETER B. TURNER, JBYM mi ETTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUSH-TYPE OFFSET MOWER Peter Turner, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application January 10, 1948, Serial No. 1,554

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a push type mower of the reciprocating sickle type and is adapted to be applied to any type of tractor or vehicle from which the structure may be swung to extend forwardly therefrom. A primary feature of the invention is that the sickle bar is engaged at one end thereof and likewise the sickle itself is reciprocated from that end all to the purpose that the bar and sickle will extend to one side of the pushing structure and drive means so that the operator of the pushing vehicle from which the power is derived to operate the sickle may observe the sickle readily at all times as it is. pushed through the uncut grass or other material which is being operated upon.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a structure of the type above indicated wherein the cutting member may be revolved about the pushing mechanism at least 180 degrees, 90 degrees downwardly from the horizontal, and 90 degrees at least upwardly from the horizontal, or even carried around the pushing means the complete circle of 360 degrees if so desired. This possibility of the invention makes the structure particularly advantageous cutting along highways and in ditches. Furthermore, it lends itself to the cutting of hedges and structures which are carried at a distance above the ground, as well as cutting grasses and the like.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an offset sickle bar arrangement which is swung about a pivot member and held in place normally by a shear pin so that when the outer end of the sickle bar or sickle may strike an obstruction, the entire assembly of the sickle and sickle bar may swing around the pivot member upon shearing the pin.

A still further important object of the invention is to swing the entire driving head and the sickle bar with its sickle at a distance sufliciently far ahead of the .vehicle so that the sickle bar may ride evenly over the contour of the ground as it is pushed thereover, and further .be maintained in sliding contact with the ground by means of the weight `of the driving head itself. As above indicated, the cutting mechanism thus provided is always forwardly of the pushing vehicle so that the operator is not required to look to the back as he usually had to do in the past with other structures heretofore pro 'ded.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those vers-ed in the art in the following description of on particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front perspective of a structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 a view in top plan on an enlarged scale of the interconnection of the drive head with the sickle bar;

Fig. 3 a detail in top -plan of the driving structure with the cover removed;

Fig. 4 a detail in transverse section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig, 5 a transverse section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 a longitudinal vertical section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 a detail in vertical section in the line 1-1 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 a detail in side elevation of the interconnection of the driving head with the pusher tube;

Fig. 9 a View in transverse section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 a view in longitudinal section on the line IIJ- I0 in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, reference is first made to Fig. 1. Upon any suitable framework, such as the members I5 and I6 which may be separate from or even a part of a vehicle (not shown) there is mounted at the forward end thereof a pusher tube Il by any suitable means, herein shown as through a head I8 which is rockable between the forwardly extending members I9 and 20 that are secured or supported by the members I5 and I6. This head I8 is hinged to the members I9 and 20 by any suitable means, such as by the bolts 2I and 22 so that the head I8 is confined to a rocking action about a normally disposed horizontal axis. Then any suitable driving means, such as a propeller shaft 23 is brought up to the rear side of the head I8 and interconnected by means of a universal joint 24 to a drive shaft 25, Fig. 6, which extends centrally and axially through the tube I1 from its rear end to the forward end thereof.

Then a lever system may be employed to lift and lower the tube I1 as the operator may desire, the tube I'I being secured in a fixed manner to the head I8. This lever system in an elementary form consists in the present showing of a hand operated level' 26 which is secured to a cross shaft 21 that is rockable in relation to the rails or frame members I5 and I6. A lever 28 is fixed to the shaft 21 to have its outer end pivotally connected to a link 29 in turn having a forward end thereof pivoted to the outer end of a lever 30 in turn fixed to the cross shaft 3l. This cross shaft 3l carries 32 from which a flexible member 33, as a chain, is swung. The free end of this chain 33 may selectively be attached to the ear 34' that is provided on the tube I1. When it is desired to swing the tube I1 upwardly, the lower end of this chain 33 may be interconnected with the ear 34. Of course, the chain 33 in a lengthened condition may be permanently attached to the ear 3d. Likewise, a short condition of the chain 33 mayv beemployed to hold'the tube I1 in an upper position if desired.

A driving head generally designated by the a short lever herein shown numeral 35 is made in two parts, an upper section` 36 and a lower section 91, the two sections .coming together on a horizontally disposed parting line in' the plane of the axis of the tube I1.' These twol sections 39 and 31 are secured one against the other in a closed condition by means of a-pluralityA of bolts 3S, Fig. 2, passing through 'ears provided on the sections. The two sections 3S and 31 when secured one against the other have definedtherethrough a bore to receive slidingly therein a forward portion of and'S'I being of that length which will slidingly t between a forward flange 39 -and'a rearwardly spaced ange 49 around the tube I1, Fig'. 6. Thus when the two sections 36 and 31'are bolted' one against the other to havethe forwardend of the tube I1' passed therein, against longitudinal displacement along the tube I1',' but is allowed to their two geometric axes being coincident or' in common.

In the forward end of. the tube IIfispo'sitioned a'bearing 4I, herein shown as of' the ball bearing.

type. This bearing 4I serves to support the'shaft at'v its forward' end. A crank arm 42 is fitted over the forward end of the' shaft' 25, over a reduced diameter portion thereof, designated' by the numeral 43, and is secured inplace by means of a nut 44. The arm by means of a suitable key 45;

The outer free portion of the' crank 42" is provided with a4 bore 45' therethrough, the' axis of which isv parallel to theaxis` of theY shaft 25; In the forward'endofthe-housing 35, there is revolubly positioned a post 41; nts" within a bearing provided in the lower section 31 and extendsthrougha bearing 48 carried by the upper sectionl 36, to have a taperedand serrated portion 49 extendingY beyond the' top side ofthe sectionS. The bearing in the lower section 31 is designated by the numeral 59.

Fixed to this post 41 is aV block 5I which is bifurcated to form'two arms 5'2and 53between which a connecting rod 54y` is swung bybeing pivoted' on a` transverse pin 55 carrie'dbythese two arms 5?l and 53. In the form'herein shown, this pin 55 is secured against rotation by means of apin 56 pin55. This connecting rod 54 has a' rocking t between the two arms 52 and 53 and tapers therefrom to have a ball 51 carried integrally on its outer free end to t within the bore 46 of the crank arm 42. The diameter of this ball 51 is made to be such that it has aolose sliding iit with the walls of the bore 4G. A dowel pin 58, Fig. 6,

extends between the upper and lower sections 3Sv and 31 ofthe housing to maintain those sections in alignment at their forward ends.

The lower housing section 31 has formed integrally therewith a transverse flange'59 which` extends primarily across the section 31 atv` its lower forward portion and primarily to one sidel thereof, Fig. 2. This flange 59' is supported tothe the tube I1, the-twosections-SS" the head is secured be free to revolve therearound,`

42 is keyed to theA shaft' 2'5' the lower end of which extending through the arm 53" and theright, Fig. 2, by a gusset 59 so as to maintain the flange 59 in rigid alignment with the head 35, the flange 59 extending at right angles to the axis of the shaft 55. As will be noted in Fig. 2, the left hand end of this flange 59 does not extend beyond the side of the housing 35.

A sickle bar 6I is brought up against the under side of this flange 59 and secured thereto by means of a pivot bolt 62. To maintain the sickle bar 6I in normal parallel relationwith the ilange 59, a shear pin y63 is inserted through the sickle bar 6I and through the flange 59, this pin 63 in the present showing consisting of a bolt having a nut 64 screw-threadedly engaging the top end as it projects from the flange 59. The pivot bolt B2 has a-much-larger diameter than that of the pin 63 so that should the outer free end of the sickle bar 6I meet with an obstruction, the leverage systemisfsuch and the diameter of this bolt 63 is such that it will shear and allow the cuter free end of the bar 6I to rock relatively rearwardly around' the pin or bolt 62.

The sickle b'ar 6I is of the usual construction and.' has' attached thereto the usual guards 65 at' regular intervals therealong. Then there is through and' extend around under the guard and under the bar 6I to have 'an upright bracket 1I extendgupwardly and be selectively engaged by a bolt 12" carriedby a bracket 13.' By this means,

theshoe 68, as well as the shoe 69 may be adjusted' relative to the bar 6Ito space the bar at the desireddistance` above the ground.

At'the'ext'reme right hand end of the sickle 96 is'xedther'eto a'drivingbracket` 14", herein shown a'sm'oun't'ed'immediately above the respective sections 15'of thesickle. In the present showing, this-bracket 14 is xed to the sickle by means of 'a pair' of short bolts, 112 Inthe-central zone of this bracket 14 there is provided af'ore and aft slotthereacros's designated by the numeral 18, within which slot there is fitted a block of plastic'or some resilient material designated lbythe numeral 19. This block I9 has a` central bore therethrough to receive the lower cylindrical end 890iAr the lever armv SI" which in turn is-tted down over the serrated portion 49 oftlie .post'4-1, Fig. 6j and'there secured by means of the nut? 82'. This arm 8| has a rearwardlyextending finger 83 which extends over the top' section-3K5l of the housing 35-"avshort distance to serve as a means for knocking grass' or other out materiallfromloverthev topvside of the' housing.

Normally, the' housingi 35`is left free to revolve around the `forward end of thetube I but it may be 'xedinfanyfdesired" point of thatrevolution bymeansof a bolt 8`4`xe'd tothe housing 35'in som'e manner; This bolt 8'4-inthe presentl showing isherein shown'as being xed'to'one of' the bolts'f3'82 Figi 8;' to extend'rearwardlyfrom the housing' 35iand'through=a.slot= 85 of asector' 85 ange 49, Fig. 6. By mean's'of nuts 8`1i the interenga-gement' of; the bolt 84' and'A the` sector 86 can be xed'at any point of travel of the bolt 84 around-theslot 85'; simply by`drawing'the'nuts 81 up against the rear'fac'e'of'thesector 86':

From the foregoing description of the particular form of structure shown in the'drawings, it is to be observed that the drive shaft 25 has its rotary motion transformed into reciprocating motion at the end of the lever 8l, this end being caused to travel primarily longitudinally of the sickle bar 6I to set up the reciprocating action of the sickle 66. In other words, all of the mechanism which is required to set up that reciprocating action as provided from the shaft 25 is en-f closed within the housing 35 with the exception of the externally presented lever arm 8 I.

Further, it is to be seen that the sickle bar v6I is secured to the enclosed head 35 at the extreme right hand end of the bar 6I in the present showing. Obviously, its left hand end if so desired. However, the essential feature is that this bar 6I be secured to the head 35 at the extreme end of the bar 6| in either case so that the outer right hand end of the bar 6I is in substantial alignment with the right hand side of thehead 35. That is to say, there is neither any overhanging of the head 35 to the right end of the bar 6l, and neither is there any appreciable extension of the bar 6I beyond that side of the head 35.

By means of this particular mounting of the bar 6l on the head 35, the tube I1 may be used as a device to align the travel of the bar 6l ahead of the vehicle so that the axis of the tube Il is substantially on that line of demarcation or junction between the standing grass r grain and the previously cut swath. Then again by mounting the head 35 at the extreme end of the bar 6I, the bar 6l may be revolved about the axis of the tube l1 whereby the cut may be had from the horizontal, or even below the horizontal depending upon the contour of the ground, or the slope of the ground, and even permitting the shifting of the bar 6I around to the vertical or even a position beyond the vertical, all as may be desired to meet the peculiar situation under which the mower is to operate.

While I have shown the invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

This application is a continuation in part of application '747,692 filed May 13, 1947.

Iclaim:

l. A push-type mower comprising support means, said support means having a pivotal connection adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle, a sickle and a sickle bar, said support means including at least two parts relatively rotatable with relation to each other about a common axis, one of said parts being operatively connected to said sickle bar, driving means operatively connected with said sickle and supported at least partially by said support means, a universal connection in said driving means, said driving means being adapted for connection with a source of power, said one part of said support means being connected to said sickle bar adjacent one end of said sickle bar.

2. A push-type mower comprising support means, said support means having a pivotal connection adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle, a sickle and a sickle bar, said support means including at least two parts relatively rotatable with relation to each other about a common axis,

the bar 6| could be engaged at one of said parts being operatively connected to said sickle bar, driving means operatively connected with said sickle and supported at least partially by said support means, a universal connection in said driving means in substantial alignment with the axis of said pivotal connection, said driving means being adapted for connection with a source of power, said one part of said support means being connected to said sickle bar adjacent one end of said sickle bar.

3. A push-type mower comprising support means, said support means having a pivotal connection adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle, a sickle and a sickle bar, said support means including at least two parts relatively rotatable with relation to each other about a common axis, one of said parts being operatively connected to said sickle bar, driving means operatively connected with said sickle and supported at least partially by said support means, a universal connection in said driving means in substantial alignment with the axis of said pivotal connection, said driving means being adapted for connection with a source of power and including a crank mechanism connected to said sickle, a thrust link and a thrust block, said one part of said support means being connected to said sickle bar adjacent one end of said sickle bar.

4. A push-type mower comprising support means, said support means having a pivotal connection adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle, a sickle and a sickle bar, said support means including at least two parts relatively rotatable with relation to each other about a com- -mon axis, one of said parts being operatively connected to said sickle bar, driving means operatively connected with said sickle and supported at least partially by said support means, a universal connection in said driving means in substantial alignment with the axis of said pivotal connection, said driving means being adapted for connection with a source of power, said relatively rotatable parts including a part rigidly connected to the sickle bar and a second part mounted in sleeved relationship with said firstnamed part, said one part of said support means being connected to said sickle bar adjacent one end of said sickle bar.

5. A push-type mower comprising support means, said support means having a pivotal connection adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle, a sickle and a sickle bar, said support means including at least two parts relatively rotatable with relation to each other about a common axis, one of said parts being operatively connected to said sickle bar, driving means operatively connected with said sickle and supported at least partially by said support means, a universal connection in said driving means in substantial alignment with the axis of said pivotal connection, said driving means being adapted for connection with a source of power, said relatively rotatable parts including a part rigidly connected to the sickle bar and a second part mounted in sleeved relationship with said firstnamed part, and means for adjustably regulating the rotatable position of one part with regard to the second part, said one part of said support means being connected to said sickle bar adjacent one end of said sickle bar.

6. A push-type mower comprising support means, said support means having a pivotal connection adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle, a sickle and a sickle bar, said support means including at least two parts relatively rotata'ble;I with :.rel'ationltozeachr other abou-taail come` momaxis; onefofisaidipartsbeing operatively: comI nected' to; saldi sickle; han; driving: means opera.-4 tivelyK connected'. Wlth said: sickle: auch supponted atleast-partially saidzsupportfr means, ai universa-l. connection.` in': said` driving means:` inv sub=- staintal. alignment. wtl'l thefy axis ofsaid@ piivotalI connection;V and-z mear-lsfA for drivingly connecting 'said driving'. means withI a-Isourcefof power.: fromi said motor" vehicle and. at a: poi-nti b'en'eatllfr4 said. motor-f vehiclei. saidz one." part` ofV sa'dfv support means: being coniiect'edf tasaicl sickle bar adjaw centonerend of isaid. sicklerbar;

7; A1 push-typeA mowen comprising; supporti means, saidsup'port meansw-havingza pivotalmon-wnection: adapted: fori mountingv on: a=1notor vew hi'cle. a@ sickle; and,- a sickle: bar, said: support means-nclud-lng-at .least twov parts relatively 1ro tal-table' withlI relation: tofeachotlier about.acomi--imonw axis, one ofv said: parts beingf. operatively;y connectedfto saidsickle bar', drving;.meansfoper-w atively;K connectedA withA saidk sickle and supportedt at. least partially by;y saldi4 support means,4 a. unie versaliconnection in: said. drivingmea-ns; said-i driVing-means-beingadaptedffor connection-wthan source r ofpower, v. saidv one.A part of"y saidf support means sbeingconnected to said=sickle bar adj a cent one endv off said:A sickleA bar, andi releasef meansypermittingJ relative.` movementy between said one-,part andi saidffsickle barupon :operationA of` saldi-release :meansf- 81A; push-type? mower comprising; supporti means; saidl-support meansfhaving. aupi-votaLcoI-i-v necton adapted" forv mounting; oni amotor-w ve.-

. connected tosaidsickle:

si; hielfaa sickle andiY 'as sioldef bari; said?. support meaisi includingL alti least twolpartsl relatively." ro'` tatafble with'irelation'atoeacli: otli'errabout a; come' mom axis,v one: ofi said: pai-'tss being. operativelyf ban; drivingfmeans'opeifatively oonnectedwithisaidsickland: supported` atlast-p'antiallyf said support means; ,a1 unif-v versalfl connection: in` sasid` driving means: in?. sull.-v stantlall alignment: Witlr. the axis of said.' pivotal: c0nnebtn;..said drivin'gimeanswbeing. adapted fon Uonnectlonfawitl. a: sourceof' powen. said rela-l tively rota'tabler parts.` including;y a' part" rigidly1 oon'nectedto the sickle'bar' and a second part mounted in-` abutting: relationship-withksaid first`` named part; .said one pla-rtofsaidsupportr means being connected=to1said sickle-bar adjacent one end ofi saidf sickle ban. saidx second! part. being? connected.: toy said1 pivotal connection..

PE'ITliR TURN-ER- REFERENCES CITED The' following references are of`reoord in' the 'le) of" tliis patenti:

STATES' PATENTS 

